SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA THEME PARK ROUNDUP

Disney California Adventure Park Opens its First Attraction Featuring the Guardians of the Galaxy, Launching Summer of Heroes

‘Fantasmic!’ Nighttime Spectacular Opens with New Magic on July 17, the 62nd Anniversary of the Disneyland Resort, and Breathtaking New Views Await Guests on the Disneyland Railroad and Rivers of America Attractions, Reopening July 29

At Disney California Adventure

At Disney California Adventure, guests experience an epic new adventure and high-energy thrills on Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! It’s the only Disney attraction in the universe where guests step into a Guardians of the Galaxy story, as they help Rocket rescue this cosmic gang of misfits. With multiple ride profiles, guests never know which adventure they’ll encounter.

Welcoming its first attraction to feature Rocket, Star- Lord, Gamora, Drax and Groot, the Disneyland Resort celebrated the grand arrival of Guardians of the Galaxy ­– Mission: BREAKOUT! at Disney California Adventure Park. The action-packed, new attraction, filled with the irreverent humor of the smash-hit “Guardians of the Galaxy” films, opened May 27 to launch Summer of Heroes.

Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! brings an all-new epic adventure to the Disneyland Resort, and it’s the only Disney park in the universe where guests can step into a Guardians of the Galaxy story. With Rocket in control, you’re in for one heck of a ride. It’s a fantastic way for guests to experience the Super Hero universe like never before.

This is just the beginning of what will become an even bigger Super Hero presence at Disney California Adventure, was the promise made at the unveiling of the attraction and the extraordinary, 183-foot-tall Fortress.

Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! entices guests with an original storyline based on the “Guardians of the Galaxy” films, comics and animated television series, with a rapid rise into chaotic adventure and surprising visuals. The fast-paced action rocks to the beat of music inspired by the films’ soundtracks, including classic rock and pop music from the ‘60s, ‘70s and early ‘80s. And with multiple ride profiles, guests never know which adventure they’ll get.

Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! opened just weeks after the cinematic premiere of “Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2.” The stars of the films are featured in the attraction.

Walt Disney Imagineering collaborated with Gunn, Marvel Studios’ Feige and most of the main talent from the films, along with Quesada of Marvel Entertainment and Marvel Themed Entertainment on the story of the attraction, developing an experience where guests step into a story with these characters for the first time.

In addition to the new attraction, Summer of Heroes began May 27 with Guardians of the Galaxy characters and Super Heroes appearing in Disney California Adventure for new exploits and Heroic Encounters. While some of these will be year-round, others will be available only from May 27-Sept. 10. Summer of Heroes inaugurates an ever-expanding universe of Super Hero stories at Disney California Adventure that will become even bigger over time.

The Collector’s Fortress

The Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! adventure begins as guests enter the grandiose Fortress. They discover that the Guardians have been imprisoned by the arrogant, acquisitive Taneleer Tivan, known as The Collector. Guests join a daring escape plan devised by Rocket, who once again proves his uncanny ability to break free from any prison or captivity.

The dominating fortress, adorned with antennae, satellite dishes and mysterious apparatus, is accented in shimmering hues of blue and gold. At night, with special lighting, it pulsates with imposing power. A gilded, eight-foot-tall statue of The Collector stands at the entry, towering over his VIP guests. As they enter to view the unique “Tivan Collection” of relics and species from all over the universe, they find his latest acquisition: The Guardians of the Galaxy.

The Fortress Lobby

The Lobby of the fortress is both fascinating and creepy – filled with display cases that hold artifacts and living creatures, which The Collector has obtained and made available for public viewing. In a welcome video, The Collector explains how he has trapped the Guardians of the Galaxy high atop his fortress in secured glass cages that are wired with power from a massive generator and suspended over a deep abyss.

The Collector’s Office

Before leaving the Lobby and entering The Collector’s Office, guests hold up their hands to be “bio-scanned” for security clearance. In the Office, even more of The Collector’s relics are on display and, as in the Lobby, the collection contains some hidden references that will delight dedicated Super Hero fans and Disney fans.

Suddenly, Rocket appears, telling guests he needs their help. Using their security clearances, he can hijack the gantry lift to the top of the fortress, disable the generator, and free his friends.

The Gantry Lift

Of course, Rocket’s plan faces challenges. After guests enter the gantry lift, Rocket overrides The Collector’s recorded tour spiel with music from the tape player of Star-Lord (aka Peter Quill). Soon, the gantry is shooting up into the fortress, then plummeting downward as Rocket attempts to take control of the generator.

It’s here that guests experience one of the attraction’s six different ride profiles, each synchronized to one of the songs on the “awesome mix tape”:

“Hit Me With Your Best Shot” by Pat Benatar

“Give Up The Funk” by Parliament

“Born To Be Wild” by Steppenwolf

“I Want You Back” by The Jackson 5

“Free Ride” by The Edgar Winter Group

“Burning Love” by Elvis Presley

Guests soon learn that, even if the rescue is successful, the resulting chaos may create problems of its own!

The Technology

To help create the attraction, Disney Imagineers used Virtual Reality technology to pre-visualize the Tivan Collection, The Collector’s Office and other parts of the Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! experience.

The ride system has more high-speed ride time than ever before, and the thrill factor gets going as soon as the gantry lift doors close and the music starts blaring. Each song is accompanied by a different up-and-down ride profile and story scenes, making every visit to the attraction unpredictable.

Rocket makes multiple appearances in the attraction, including as an Audio-Animatronics character who invades The Collector’s Office to ask guests for a hand with his escape plan.

From the anticipation guests will feel as they enter The Collector’s Fortress to the sense of discovery as they tour the Tivan Collection to the elation of participating in a successful breakout, Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! is an unforgettable adventure into the Super Hero universe at Disney California Adventure.

At Disneyland Resort

Guests visiting the Disneyland Resort this summer will experience new magic at both theme parks as classic attractions reopen at Disneyland Park in July and the Summer of Heroes festivities continue through Sept. 10 at Disney California Adventure Park, home of the thrilling and hilarious new attraction, Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!

Monday, July 17, marks both the anniversary of the 1955 grand opening of Disneyland and the premiere of a newly enhanced “Fantasmic!,” the popular nighttime spectacular.

Beginning July 29, the Disneyland Railroad will once again take guests on a Grand Circle Tour of Walt Disney’s original Magic Kingdom. Classic Rivers of America attractions – the Mark Twain Riverboat, Sailing Ship Columbia and Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes – will relaunch July 29 as well, bringing new adventures and breathtaking new views. Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island reopens Friday, June 16.

“Fantasmic!,” which tells the story of Mickey Mouse and his vivid imagination, returns to the Rivers of America in Frontierland with its classic theme song and engaging storyline guests have treasured for 25 years. Mickey’s exploration now features new scenes with characters from “Aladdin,” “Tangled,” “The Lion King” and “Pirates of the Caribbean.” One dazzling sequence finds Aladdin and Jasmine discovering “A Whole New World” as they float on their flying carpet over a bed of fog on the Rivers of America.

Those sensational “Fantasmic!” adventures come alive with new mist screens and innovative, state-of-the-art projection technology to create visuals that are brighter and more vibrant than ever before.

The Disneyland Railroad, one of the park’s original attractions, returns with its iconic steam-powered locomotives for new adventures. The Disneyland Railroad will now travel across the rocks on a trestle that extends out into the Rivers of America, and for the first time ever it will make a left-hand turn on its tour of the park. Along the way, guests will enjoy a view of Walt Disney’s legendary Dioramas of the Grand Canyon and Primeval World, which have been carefully restored to their original splendor with a bit of new magic added to both.

Guests on board the Disneyland Railroad also will discover a breathtaking new view along the north bank of Rivers of America. A gorgeous new Columbia Gorge section highlighted by five new picturesque waterfalls can be seen from the trains as well as from the Mark Twain Riverboat, Sailing Ship Columbia and Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes. This new adventure complements the scenes guests have come to know and cherish through the years. Landscapes inspired by four of America’s majestic rivers–the Mississippi, the Columbia, the Missouri and the Rio Grande–are carefully recreated, complete with indigenous rock formations, natural forests and wildlife, and the waterfalls.

In addition to the returning classics in Frontierland and New Orleans Square, the beloved Main Street Electrical Parade continues nightly performances in Disneyland through Aug. 20, featuring such favorite scenes as Cinderella’s ball, the appearance (and disappearance) of Elliot, the smoke-breathing, tail-wagging “Pete’s Dragon,” and the glittering “To Honor America” finale.

Disneyland Resort in Anaheim is open daily year round, and Summer of Heroes runs through September 10. For more information call 866-603-4763 or visit www.disneyland.com.

Sol Spin Brings Topsy-Turvy Thrills to Fiesta Village and Adventures Await in the Lively Town of Calico as Ghost Town Alive! Returns to Knott’s Berry Farm

Also, Prepare for a Summer Full of New Thrills and Bigger Spills at Knott’s Soak City Waterpark

At Knott’s Berry Farm

Sol Spin will send brave guests on a ride of lifetime by taking them on a thrilling topsy-turvy adventure over six stories high as they rotate in all directions in one of the ride’s six spinning floorless gondolas. This one-of-kind ride will leave thrill seekers astonished by its smooth and gravity-defying movements, circling above the park and into the Orange County skyline, for an upside down adventure like no other. Height requirement for Sol Spin is 54 inches. Sol spin is the newest thrill ride added to the park since Coast Rider’s arrival in the Boardwalk area in 2013.

Through September 4th, Ghost Town Alive! returns to Knott’s Berry Farm for another action-packed summer complete with bandits, cowboys, robberies, judges, a good ol’ western hoedown, and much more! Guests can visit the beloved town of Calico and experience an authentic western adventure by becoming a star in this summer’s story of the Wild West, where the power to unlock adventures is in the hands of every guest.

This summer, the story continues a year after the notorious Mayfield Gang escaped the custody of Sheriff Wheeler. Word around town is the Mayfield’s have been spotted back in Calico and the townsfolk are in need of some help in capturing the bandits and keeping the town safe. Ghost Town Alive! will offer guests a firsthand experience to play an important part in this unfolding story of the wild west, with specific tasks and activities and an essential role as an honorary citizen of Calico.

“Ghost Town Alive! has taken Knott’s summer entertainment and the idea of ‘playing in a theme park’ to a whole new level. Guests of all ages will have the opportunity to not just interact with the citizens of Calico, but will have the ability to influence how the story takes shape,” said Jon Storbeck, General Manager of Knott’s Berry Farm. “Our Entertainment team has been working all year in developing new storylines, adding new characters and activities that make up the lively town of Calico”.

Along with the return of Ghost Town Alive! The park will also debut Snoopy’s Magnificent Magical Revue, a jaw-dropping magic show starring the World’s Most Famous Beagle, Snoopy and showcasing the mystifying and amazing magic of Magician Extraordinaire Greg Wilson! The whole PEANUTS GANG will amaze and confound with their magical exploits and lavish musical production numbers in this family friendly show! And who knows, guests might find themselves part of the act! Snoopy’s Magnificent Magical Revue will mesmerize on select dates, through August 20 in the Charles M. Schulz Theatre. (Dark Wednesdays)

The circus returns to town! The renowned “Traveling Circus” returns for another season of exhilarating performances. Set on the Calico Mine stage in Ghost Town, come witness a spectacle; see awe-inspiring stunts, and death defying acrobatics in “Circus of Wonders.” The astonishing 30 minute spectacular will be action packed with all-time favorite circus attractions such as the Trapeze, Tightrope, Aerial Acrobatics, Trampoline, and of course, clowns, incorporating lighting and pyrotechnics, making this nighttime show a totally unique event! Select dates, through August 20.

The live entertainment continues with the explosive Wild West Stunt Show and the high kickin’ Calico Saloon Show, all in Ghost Town.

At the Wagon Camp Stage, get krazy when Krazy Kirk and the Hillbillies mount their toe tappin’, knee-slappin’, gut-bustin’ country comedy show that will have audiences clamoring for more! In the evening a group of krazy talented performers will have guests kicking up their heels with vine dancing, a down home jug band and dueling fiddlers and banjos!

Knott’s also invites guests to celebrate Fourth of July weekend and Labor Day weekend at the park for a special nighttime firework display. The Buena Park skyline will glow with a brilliant fireworks show on July 1-2 & 4, and September 3rd, exclusively at Knott’s Berry Farm.

At Knott’s Soak City Waterpark

The weather is warming up in sunny Southern California just in time for the opening of the newly expanded Knott’s Soak City Waterpark. Orange County’s largest outdoor water park is opening its gates to guests for an unforgettable summer season running through September 10. During Knott’s Soak City’s opening weekend the newly expanded water park will be debuting seven new slides on two new slide towers, Shore Break and The Wedge, a fully remodeled Longboard’s Grill, additional seating areas and new spacious cabanas.

Shore Break will take single riders on an adrenaline-filled water adventure as thrill-seekers board one of four Aqua Launch chambers to await the chamber’s floor dropping from beneath their feet sending them on a high speed free fall down a 60-foot tall slide and through a series of exhilarating drops and daring loops. Additionally, Shore Break offers two dueling tube slides which will have riders zipping through adventurous drops and turns as they soak up the warm summer sun.

The Wedge will take families - up to six riders - on an open-raft ride as they descend down navigating hair-raising twists, turns and unexpected dips.

Longboard’s Grill will return for the 2017 summer season after a complete remodeling and expansion which now offers a newly redesigned sleek restaurant layout. While Longboard’s theme remains the same, the menu includes new and delicious items such as hand breaded chicken tenders, fish & chips and assorted wraps. Plus classic favorites like grilled burgers and hot dogs. A new shaded outdoor seating area has been added by the restaurant’s entrance, welcoming diners to fuel up with delicious meals as they take a break from the sun.

As part of the water park’s expansion, additional spacious cabanas and seating areas have been added to the park’s blueprint. Guests can relax and unwind in the new row of cabanas which will be conveniently located across the new Shore Break tower. A new seating area equipped with lounge chairs will allow guests to relax in the sun and is also located near the Shore Break complex.

Guests can experience Knott’s Soak City Waterpark and much more with a 2017 Gold Season Pass. A Gold Pass includes unlimited 2017 admission to both Knott’s Berry Farm and the newly expanded Soak City Waterpark with six thrilling new slides and an all new family raft ride. Gold Season Passes can be purchased online starting at $117.00 or 6 easy payments of $19.50. Applicable taxes and fees apply. The Season Pass payment plan is only available online at knotts.com

For more information about Knott’s Soak City Waterpark, Knott’s Berry Farm and Knott’s Season Passes, please visit knotts.com. Join the conversation about the return on the popular Ghost Town Alive! and Knott’s summer entertainment using #GhostTownAlive #KnottBerryFarm #KnottsSoakCity #KnottsSoakCityBeachBash.

Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park is open daily year round, and Ghost Town Alive! runs through September 4. For more information call 714-220-5200 or visit www.knotts.com, where you can also download the Knott’s Berry Farm mobile app for your smartphone, or save time and money with Knott’s Print@Home tickets.

The new LEGO® STAR WARS™: The Force Awakens Miniland Model Display is now open. The newest model display is in the center of LEGO STAR WARS™ Miniland and includes six scenes that represent the first 30 minutes of Star Wars: The Force Awakens which include: Kylo Ren’s capture of Poe at planet Jakku; Rey’s rescue of BB-8; Poe and Finn’s escape from the Star Destroyer Finalizer; The wreck of Finn and Poe’s TIE Fighter; Rey, Finn and BB-8’s escape from Niima Outpost; and the escape from the Starship Graveyard. Lights, sound effects and animation bring the scenes and characters to life from this blockbuster film.

The Force remains strong at LEGOLAND® California Resort as guests of the family theme park in Carlsbad will now get to experience a new exciting installment in LEGO® Star Wars™ Miniland with the LEGO® Star Wars™: The Force Awakens Miniland Model Display! The latest major model addition includes the 16-foot-long Star Destroyer Finalizer, made of more than 350,000 LEGO bricks. The Finalizer is installed more than 6 feet in the air above guests and is now the longest LEGO Star Wars Miniland model ever created!

In Surfers’ Cove, kids will be able to race their friends at Riptide Racers timed water slides, enjoy an epic splash-ground at Wipeout Lagoon and enlighten their taste buds with the new Beach Street Tacos! Riptide Racers is a competitive water raceway designed for children to jump on a mat and race down one of six slides with family and friends for the fastest time! Each slide stands 17 feet high and is more than 100 feet in length. Wipeout Lagoon is our version of a “spray ground” with multiple water jets splashing on and off and plenty of new LEGO® models like a surfing dog to create a fun place to cool off this summer.

The LEGOLAND Water Park is open seven days a week starting Friday, May 26. For ticket prices, operating schedule and additional information, visit www.LEGOLAND.com or call 760-918-LEGO (5346).

LEGOLAND® California Resort celebrates Independence Day with a star-spangled Fourth of July celebration, Red, White and Boom! Throughout the day, kids of all ages can participate in all-American family picnic games like tossing water-balloons, burlap sack races, patriotic costume contests and building activities. The fireworks show begins at 8:30 p.m. and combines patriotic music with dazzling pyrotechnics.

Families can now spend their evening fully immersed in the world of LEGO® NINJAGO® at LEGOLAND® Hotel at LEGOLAND® California Resort! Starting today, guests can officially spend the night in the new fully-themed LEGO NINJAGO rooms before heading into the Park to enjoy the day in LEGO® NINJAGO® World and experiencing NINJAGO® The Ride.

Guests can choose from 18 rooms and two suites to spend a night with Kai, Jay, Cole, Zane, Lloyd, Nya and Master Wu. Each room is filled with 11 LEGO® NINJAGO inspired models. Kids will recognize Zane’s titanium falcon, Nya’s helmet, ninja throwing stars and a massive dragon egg all made out of LEGO bricks. Every children’s sleeping area is themed as a dragon’s cave where ninja dragons are waiting for battle and includes bunk and trundle beds. Plus, kids have their own TV, games, LEGO bricks and a treasure chest hidden in what’s designed to be a bamboo passageway to the mountain temple! Parents will also sleep in ninja style as the king-size bed’s headrest includes a shrine that holds all four elemental weapons.

The LEGOLAND Hotel now offers guests five room options when booking their stay. Guests can choose from a Pirate, Adventure, Kingdom, LEGO® Friends or LEGO NINJAGO theme. In 2016, LEGOLAND California opened a new land, LEGO NINJAGO World, featuring five attractions all designed to test guests balance, agility, speed and creativity all before they experience NINJAGO The Ride, a first ride of its kind in North America that enables guests to demonstrate ninja skills by simply using their hands instead of a hand-held device .

LEGOLAND California Resort includes LEGOLAND California, SEA LIFE Carlsbad Aquarium and LEGOLAND Water Park, all geared for families with children between the ages of 2 and 12. LEGOLAND California features more than 60 rides, shows, and attractions including LEGO Star Wars™ Miniland and the all-new Pirate Reef where guests board boats that drop down 25 feet between two battling pirate ships! SEA LIFE incorporates LEGO models into a child’s voyage to the depths of the ocean and features play zones, fun facts, quiz trails, and the all-new Claws exhibit.

LEGOLAND California Resort in Carlsbad is open daily through September 4, and the LEGOLAND Hotel is open year round. For more information call 760-918-5346 or visit www.legoland.com.

Seaworld’s New Ocean Explorer

To Open In 2017

New attraction will create a realm for ocean discovery and exploration

SeaWorld® San Diego will unveil an extraordinary, new attraction in 2017 that will create an expedition of wonder across the seven seas. Ocean Explorer will combine multiple aquariums, exciting rides and digital technologies to engage park guests in an experience centered on exploration and adventure inspiring them to protect the wonders of our oceans.

As adventurers on a global expedition of scientific exploration, guests will travel to Ocean Explorer’s remarkable undersea animals aboard submarines know as Submarine Quest. Embarking on these mini subs, the signature ride of the attraction, visitors will become researchers on a mission to collect data and learn how they can help animals. This three-minute experience will include an onboard digital navigation dashboard, as well as a few other surprises along their journey, enhancing the riders’ understanding of the ocean ecosystem.

The heart and destination of Ocean Explorer will be a series of undersea research bases housing specially-designed aquariums and interactive activities displaying unique as well as elusive ocean animals.

Guests will discover these newly created aquariums, known as research pods, throughout Ocean Explorer. Enriching educational displays, technologies and graphics will be key components of each pod.

Ocean Explorer will also feature an exhilarating wave swinger ride where guests will literally fly through thousands of real bubbles in chairs suspended from the tentacles of a giant jelly. Three additional family-friendly rides will round out the fun of this immersive, new attraction.

Construction on Ocean Explorer began in summer 2016 on a 3-acre site where the Animal Connections exhibit and the Circle of Flags were located on the southeast side of the park. This multi-million dollar attraction is scheduled to open in summer of 2017.

At SeaWorld Camps, kids of all ages can get into some serious summer fun at SeaWorld’s camp programs, where activities include interacting with animals and getting a behind-the-scenes look at how they are cared for and trained. Day Camp is available for kindergarteners through 6th grade (five-day sessions) on select weeks between June 19 and Aug. 18. Five-night Resident Camps for 5th through 12th graders take place June 18–Aug. 20. For more information call (619) 222-4SEA or visit www.SeaWorldSanDiego.com/Education.

SeaWorld San Diego in San Diego is open daily year round. For more information call 800-257-4268 or visit www.seaworldsandiego.com.

Guests Will Experience the Immersive Land in a Whole New Light, Beginning June 23

Beginning June 23, guests are invited to see “The Wizarding World of Harry PotterTM” in a whole new light when Universal Studios Hollywood introduces its all-new “The Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts TM Castle,” featuring a dazzling light projection experience against the backdrop of Hogwarts™ School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

As night falls on Hogsmeade village, “The Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle” will shine brightly with an awe-inspiring spectacle that showcases the four houses of Hogwarts: Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin that culminates with awesome beams of lights that fan into the night sky.

The colorful state-of-the-art light display and special effects projection, designed to dance across the stunning Hogwarts castle, will be accompanied by a special musical arrangement created by Academy Award-winning composer John Williams based on his original scores composed for the film series. The musical arrangement that will emanate in a surround sound environment was conducted by prolific arranger William Ross and recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra in London.

This new summertime feature will take place multiple times a night during its run. Live rehearsals with annual pass previews and very limited guest access will begin in June in preparation for the June 23 grand opening.

Inspired by J.K. Rowling’s compelling stories and characters that were brought to life in the Warner Bros. films, “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” at Universal Studios Hollywood is a masterful recreation, faithful to the visual landscape of the fiction and films, including as its iconic focal point, Hogwarts castle.

From its snow-capped roofs and cobblestone streets to the historic British sensibilities that characterize the whimsical look and feel of the land, “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” transports guests of all ages to the very places they watched on the silver screen.

The architecturally stunning land also includes the incredibly captivating and highly acclaimed “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey” thrill ride, now enhanced with 4K-HD and ride film projecting at an astounding rate of 120 frames-per-second for an even more immersive glimpse into Harry Potter’s world, as well as “Flight of the Hippogriff™,” Universal Studios Hollywood’s first outdoor family coaster.

“The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” resonates with immense detail, inviting guests to revel in J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World with the opportunity to enjoy authentic food and beverages at multiple locations, including Three Broomsticks™ and Hog's Head pub, as well as the Magic Neep and Butterbeer™ carts.

A foray through the shops adds to the authenticity of the land with eight retail venues and locations, including Honeydukes™, Ollivanders™, Owl Post™, Zonko’s™ Joke Shop, Wiseacre's Wizarding Equipment, Dervish and Banges™, Gladrags Wizardwear and Filch’s Emporium™ of Confiscated Goods.